1. Sirius Cove Reserve

Sirius Cove Reserve is a dog-friendly hideaway in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney’s lower north shore.

Often referred to as Little Sirius Cove, this charming little bay is home to a quiet beach, a playground and a large picnic area.

Sirius Cove Reserve and Beach

Surrounded by a sandstone wall, the 250m wide beach faces south into a deep bay that flows into Sydney Harbour. The water is very quiet and shallow and therefore perfect to walk into with your dog without having to swim.

Dogs are allowed off leash in the park, on the beach and in the water all day from Monday to Friday. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays this is restricted to non-peak hours before 9am and after 4pm.

2. Greenhills Beach in Cronulla

Greenhills Beach is located next to Wanda Beach, north of Cronulla Beach, right in front of a new suburb with the same name. It’s the only dog-friendly beach in Sydney that is also ocean facing.

While there may be lots of parking available in the area, it’s a very popular spot that quickly fills up on sunny days.

Dogs can run around off leash at Greenhills Beach before 10am and after 4pm every day. It does get busy here but the beach is very well looked after with lots of space for both dogs and their owners to spend some quality time.

3. Rose Bay Beach and Dumaresq Reserve

Dogs are allowed off leash at all times on the Rose Bay foreshore between Percival Park and Dumaresq Reserve.

Rose Bay foreshore

With beautiful views of Sydney Harbour, this is a great spot for you and your canine friend to hang out for a few hours.

Your dog is also more than welcome at other nearby parks but only on a lead.

4. Silver Beach in Kurnell

Facing Botany Bay, Silver Beach in Kurnell has a dog friendly section towards the west at Bonna Point Reserve. It’s a quiet strip of sand with low tides and hardly any waves, perfect for dogs to hang out and have a blast.

There is lots of nearby street parking available, mainly along Prince Charles Parade.

5. Kutti Beach in Vaucluse

One of Sydney’s best kept secrets is Kutti Beach, a small strip of sand, quietly tucked away between Parsley Bay Reserve and Watsons Bay in Vaucluse.

The beach is accessible via a narrow staircase right next to the Vaucluse Amateur Sailing Club located at the end of Wharf Road.

Kutti Beach in Vaucluse

It may look like a small dead-end street, which it essentially is, but don’t turn back as the staircase is right there.

Technically, dogs are only allowed on the beach and in the water on a lead. But you’ll find lots of dogs happily and freely running in and out of the water and nobody seems to mind very much.

6. Horderns Beach in Bundeena

Situated west of the Bundeena ferry wharf, Horderns Beach is a popular strip of sand that has dog on and off leash throughout the year.

Dogs are allowed on Hordens Beach off leash from September to April before 8.30am and after 4.30pm, on weekdays only.

7. Clifton Gardens Beach

Boasting a rocky beach with netted swimming enclosure, a fenced playground, change rooms and excellent BBQ and picnic facilities, Clifton Gardens Reserve has been a popular picnic spot for families since the 19th century.

8. Clontarf Reserve Beach

The area has excellent picnic and BBQ facilities, a cafe and restaurant, playgrounds, toilets and showers and beach access. Plenty of large trees offer lots of much needed shade on sunny days.

While this is a popular area for dog owners to visit, dogs have to be kept on a leash and are only allowed in the park between the hours of 10am and 6pm.

However, dogs are allowed off-leash at Sandy Bay, just north of Clontarf Reserve. Sandy Bay also has a small sheltered beach that is also very shallow, perfect for dogs to run in.

9. Station Beach in the Palm Beach Peninsula

Also known as Barrenjoey Beach, Station Beach in the Palm Beach peninsula is a 1.5 km long strip of sand facing the calm waters of Pittwater.

Station Beach in Palm Beach facing Pittwater

The southern part of Station Beach is now officially a dog-friendly stretch, albeit on-leash and only on certain days and at certain times. This is on the basis of a 12-month trial basis starting from the 1st of January 2020.

10. Bayview Dog Park in Rowland Reserve

One of the most popular dog parks in Sydney’s northern beaches is the Bayview dog park on Pittwater Road in Rowland Reserve.

It has a large grassed area as well as beach access into Pittwater, next to the boat launching zone. Also, if your dog is in desperate need of a professional wash, on weekends you’ll typically find a mobile dog wash service in the park.

11. Flora and Richie Roberts Reserve

The grassy dunes and natural lagoon in the Flora and Richie Roberts Reserve in Curl Curl between Dee Why and Freshwater Beach make for an exciting spot for dogs to have a blast.

The good news is that dogs are allowed off-leash at all times in the reserve. The facilities are great too, with dog waste bins, a drinking area and public toilets.

If our dog owners were a lot more responsible particularly in the stick and ball throwing department and poo gathering then the powers that be may consider more venues, to be licked all over by a wet smelly dog is not a pleasant experience.

I agree some owners need to be more responsible and it should be a legal requirement to properly train your dog and, unless it’s a show or breeding dog, then de-sexed as well. That said, Australia is way behind in all matters of dog ownership. In the UK your dog can catch the tube with you or go to the pub with you I even once met a lady with an assistance dog which was staying in hospital with her.